Citrus tree named 'RBB7-34'
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of citrus tree named ‘RBB7-34’. This triploid cultivar arose from a cross of the seed parent ‘LB8-9’ with pollen from a tetraploid selection of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange that arose from colchicine treated embryogenic callus. ‘RBB7-34’ produces fruit that resemble Navel orange in size, shape and with the presence of a navel on the blossom end of the fruit, but with greatly enhanced internal and external pigmentation compared with ordinary Navel orange cultivars grown in the humid, sub-tropical Florida climate. Fruit of RBB7-34 are seedless even under intensive cross pollination pressure.
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Citrus reticulata x Citrus sinensis.
Cultivar denomination: ‘RBB7-34’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of citrus tree named ‘RBB7-34’. This triploid cultivar arose from a cross of the seed parent ‘LB8-9’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,356), which is a hybrid of ‘Clementine’ x ‘Minneola’ tangelo) with pollen from a tetraploid selection of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange that arose from colchicine treated embryogenic callus. Embryo rescue and culture were performed to recover a seedling plant in vitro from the under-developed embryo that typically results from interploid hybridization in citrus. A small shoot from the resulting in vitro seedling was then grafted to an etiolated Carrizo citrange rootstock seedling, acclimated, then grown out in the greenhouse for a few years and finally planted in the field near Lake Alfred, Fla. The tree was first selected and propagated by top-working to a few pre-existing rootstock seedling hybrids directly in the same field; these top-worked trees fruited and produced true to type fruit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘RBB7-34’. The cultivar is triploid, in contrast to the diploid condition of ordinary Navel orange. It produces fruit that resemble Navel orange in size, shape and with the presence of a navel on the blossom end of the fruit (−70% of the fruit), but with greatly enhanced internal and external pigmentation, compared with ordinary Navel orange cultivars grown in the humid, sub-tropical Florida climate (see
‘RBB7-34’ is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show some aspects of the tree's form, foliage, and fruit. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.
The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘RBB7-34’. The present botanical description is that of the cultivar grown as a 7 year-old tree growing on ‘Carrizo’ rootstock in Lake Alfred, Fla. The colors (except those in common terms) are described from RHS Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society in London (second edition), in association with the Flower Council of Holland.
- Phenotypic description of ‘RBB7-34’
- Classification:
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- Botanical.—Citrus reticulutu x Citrus sinensis.
- Common name.—Mandarange.
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- Parentage:
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- Female parent.—‘LB8-9’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,356) mandarin hybrid.
- Male parent.—‘Hamlin’ sweet orange 4x, unreleased, unpatented breeding parent from the UF-CREC citrus breeding program.
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- Tree:
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- Ploidy.—Triploid.
- Size.—Medium.
- Height.—3.1 m.
- Tree spread.—3.2 to 3.8 m.
- Vigor.—Moderate vigorous.
- Density.—Canopies are moderately dense.
- Form.—Round-shaped with mostly lateral branches growing at low to medium angles. Branches with fruit exhibited drooping.
- Growth habit.—Upright and lateral growth with low-medium angle.
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- Trunk:
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- Trunk diameter.—15 cm in diameter at 30 cm above from ground.
- Trunk texture.—Rough with thorns.
- Trunk bark color.—RHS N199A (greyed-brown); irregularly striated with RHS N189A (greyed-green).
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- Branches:
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- Crotch angle.—First crotch from 35- to 40-degree angle, middle crotch formed 120-degree angle.
- Branch length.—3 m from the first crotch to the tip of the branch.
- Branch texture.—Relatively rough with small thorns or spines.
- Branch color (shoots from previous flush, hardened, and 4 to 5 mm in diameter.—): RHS 138A (green).
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- Leaves:
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- Size (lamina average).—Length: 88.8 mm Width: 53.2 mm L/W ratio: 1.67.
- Thickness.—Slightly thicker than regular and average mandarin leaves when compared to commercial mandarin hybrids, typical of triploid citrus hybrid plants.
- Type.—Simple.
- Shape.—Elliptical.
- Apex.—Retuse.
- Base.—Acute to sub-obtuse.
- Margin.—Entire and slightly undulate.
- Surface.—Upper surface: Glabrous Lower surface: Medium veins that are pinnately netted.
- Color.—Upper surface (adaxial): RHS 137A (green) Lower surface (abaxial): RHS 146B (yellow-green).
- Petiole.—Shape: Brevipetiolate (shorter than leaf lamina); junction between petiole and lamina is articulate. Width (petiole wing): Very narrow Shape (petiole wing): Obovate Length: 15 to 17 mm Width: 3.6 to 3.9 mm Color: RHS 137A (green).
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- Flowers and flower buds:
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- Type.—Hermaphrodite.
- Bearing.—Flowers grown from leaf axillaries and leaf terminals in single flower and in small clusters of 1-3 flowers; most single flowers grown from leaf axillaries; each flower branch consists of 6 to 14 flowers.
- Flower diameter.—Fully open flower with average diameter of 38.2 to 38.6 mm.
- Flower depth.—Typical flower with average depth of 16.2 mm.
- Flower blooming period.—First bloom observed: Feb. 20, 2012 Full bloom observed: Feb. 25, 2012.
- Flower bud size.—Length: Initial visible flower bud with 2.8 mm in length; mature flower bud with 20 mm in length. Diameter: Initial visible flower bud with 3.0 mm in diameter; mature flower bud with 20 mm in diameter.
- Flower bud shape.—Initial visible flower bud: Round ball shape Mature flower bud: Elongated olive shape.
- Flower bud color.—Initial visible flower bud: RHS 138B (green) Mature flower bud: RHS NN155C (white) with RHS 151C (yellow-green) spots distributed at tip of the flower bud.
- Flower petals.—Shape: Flat spatula shaped Apex shape: Smooth acute shaped Base shape: Even obtuse Color: Upper surface with RHS NN155C (white); lower surface with RHS NN155B (white) with RHS 151C yellow-green) spots distributed toward to the petal apex. Margin: Smooth.
- Flower sepal.—Number: 5 per flower Shape: Delta shaped with acute angle at apex. Length: 3.8 mm Width: 3.6 mm Apex shape: Triangle-shaped Margin: Smooth Color: Upper surface with RHS 145D (yellow-green); lower surface with RHS 145C (yellow-green).
- Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant.
- Flower pedicel.—Length: 7.2 to 7.8 mm Diameter: 1.5 to 1.7 mm Color: RHS 145B (yellow-green).
- Reproductive organs.—Fertility: Appears self-fertile. Stamen length: 13.6 to 13.8 mm Anther length: 3.6 mm Anther Width: 1.2 to 1.4 mm Anther color: RHS 22D (yellow-orange) Anther filament length: 10 to 11.2 mm Pollen amount: Low Pollen color (general): RHS 16A (yellow-orange) Pistil number: 1 Pistil length: 13.2 to 13.5 mm Pistil color: RHS 145D (yellow-green) Style length: 9 mm Style diameter: 1.8 to 1.9 mm Style color: RHS 145D (yellow-green) Ovary shape: Oval-shaped Ovary diameter: 3.9 mm Ovary color: RHS 143C (green).
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- Fruit:
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- Size.—Uniform.
- Average height.—73.1 to 75 mm.
- Average width.—79.1 to 81.5 mm.
- Average weight (per individual fruit).—238.5 g.
- Shape.—Round.
- Shape (cross-section): Round.
- Apex.—Truncated, 70% of the fruit appear to have navel.
- Base cavity diameter.—6.8 to 7.0 mm.
- Base.—No neck.
- Harvesting.—First pick around December 20th based on season and rootstock; last pick around late January though fruit continue to hold on the tree for a longer time (based on season and rootstock).
- Fruit stem (short stem connecting the fruit).—Length: 7.9 to 9.9 mm Diameter: 4.0 to 5.0 mm Color: RHS 195A (greyed-green) with RHS 197A (greyed-green) strip.
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- Rind:
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- Adherence.—Albedo (mesocarp) to flesh (endocarp) is medium-strong, similar to regular navel sweet orange, and is evenly distributed from base to apex.
- Thickness.—2.7 to 3.4 mm.
- Texture.—Smooth.
- Color.—Flavedo (epicarp): Ranges from RHS 23A (yellow-orange) to RHS 24B (orange) Albedo (mesocarp): RHS 18C (yellow-orange).
- Stylar end.—Slightly open and 70% of the fruit have navel.
- Rind oil cell density.—206 oil cells/square cm.
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- Flesh:
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- Number of segments.—Average between 11 to 12 segments per fruit.
- Segment walls.—Medium-soft with sufficient strength to maintain integrity as separated.
- Juice.—Abundant.
- Color.—Uniformly RHS 23A (yellow-orange).
- Texture.—Medium-soft.
- Vesicles.—Length: 12.2 to 13.3 mm Diameter (thickness): 3.5 to 4 mm.
- Eating quality (tested at Mid-December).—Soluble solids (average): 15.2 to 15.4 Brix Acidity (average): 1.0 to 1.2 Ratio: 12.7.
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- Seeds:
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- Type.—Seedless.
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Claims
1. A new and distinct citrus tree called ‘RBB7-34’ as illustrated and described herein.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 10, 2017
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2018
Patent Grant number: PP30324
Inventor: Frederick G. Gmitter, JR. (Lakeland, FL)
Application Number: 15/530,627